Has anyone taken apart the factory headlights

I got a set of 'cheap' replacement headlights for my '07. The problem is they aren't very good quality. They are clones of the original lights. The main problem was the stock bulbs hit the plastic housing and the manual adjusters stopped working while trying to align them.

My original lights have cloudy lenses along with the reflective part inside them has mostly fallen off. So I was thinking of removing the lens using the HID procedure to see if I can use parts from the two sets to make one set.

I replaced the stock bulbs with LED lights that don't have the plug at a 90 degree angle so they will not hit the plastic housing. So if I can make a set that works I can adjust them now.

I also have a set of fog lights (also free) that have daylight running lights around the outside that are also turn signals. In the next day or two I'll be wiring them up so it would be nice to fix the headlights at the same time.

 

There is a Black Headlight Mode "BHLM" online probably on another site as I can't find it here. Something about placing the headlight on a cookie sheet at 350degrees for like 10 minutes or something like that, I don't remember exactly.

 

It sounds like using both sets is not going to work out as easy as the OP thinks. I dont see the parts fitting well. I have done the BHLM on my 2013. It takes patience with heating the adhesive and opening it up without making a mess.

 

I agree, I did it on my 02 Celica and made quite the mess the 3 times I did it for different mods, it seemed like it just didn't get easier... Aftermarket headlight may have a different temperature before they start to warp or melt.

 

Exactly. BTW I did get the power window all sorted out. Now i just have to figure out my light issue when unlocking the truck.

 

Probably related to a door locking issue. When my doors wouldn't lock all the way the lights wouldn't flash at all, it would beep and you can hear the truck try to lock the doors several times, before it just gave up. I had to do it manually and it would return to normal, same thing with unlocking and no lights when it would struggle to unlock the passenger front door, more specifically. I pulled the panel lubed both sides with graphene?? spray, just don't get it nowhere else since it's like black paint. locked and unlocked the door using the cable's head, haven't had an issue in about 8 years. I'm about to the same to both my back doors since the door locks are flimsy, pretty much useless at this point.

 

the BHLM isn't difficult to do. read the directions online/watch videos to see temps and time.
***a little tip....put small pieces of wood between your headlight pieces and the cookie sheet to keep from melting it. i read online when i had done it that someone said it'll keep your tabs from getting screwed up.

i was nervous as a MF when i did it, but it wasn't that bad at all. re-heated them to reseal them with the factory adhesive without any issues. this was also back in 2012 or so on my 2011 headlights, so the adhesive may have been in decent shape to be able to do that. but i never had any fogging issues or anything.

 

My doors unlock and lock just fine. I just don't get the light flash every time. I also discovered that if I don't close a door all the way, I no longer get the steady beep.

 

Door lock was the issue I encountered as you described. Inconsistent at first until if just stopped and it was obvious. I did try to deactivate and reactivate the alarm using the switch and it sort of worked for a little bit, then went back to not lighting up inconsistently.

 

I wonder if there is a way to test each one.

 

I sat inside and locked the truck with the fob and had to take a look at each one, cuz denial is a B. Didn't catch it at first, but after like a month of trying after coming home from work I caught the passenger side had a second delay, like blink and you miss it. After that it became more and more obvious until it got annoying to deal with, lol..

 

I heated my oven to 190F and with a little work one of the old lights came apart. The reflector on that light isn't as bad as I thought so I may be able to just remove the lens from the replacement light and put it on my original light. They look like a Chinese factory made molds of the parts of the Toyota lights without even bothering to make any slight changes. The next question is if the Chinese use the same sealant between the lens and housing.

 

IMO I think at the end of the project you are going to end up buying a new set of OEM headlights.

 

Most likely. If I had paid for the these lights I would have bought much much nicer ones. But they were free and my Tundra rarely gets used. I probably put a couple hundred miles a year on it. The chrome on the grill is detaching from the plastic so it needs replacing. One of these days I'll post an ad in the classifieds to see if someone doing the upgrade to the Sequoia grill on a 2010 wants to sell their old grill (I'd like to update from the '07 style).

In the last 6 months I've replaced the fog lights 4 times. Mostly for fun. I currently have

LED&DRL Fog Lights Compatible with 2005-2011 Toyota Tacoma / 2007-2013 Tundra / 2004-2006 Solara / 2008-2015 Sequoia (Clear Lens)

these fog lights on it.